For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.
1Listen to my prayer, God.
Don’t hide Yourself from my supplication.
2Attend to me, and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint,
and moan 3because of the voice of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring suffering on me.
In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4My heart is severely pained within me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7Behold, then I would wander far off.
I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.
8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they prowl around on its walls.
Malice and abuse are also within her.
11Destructive forces are within her.
Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
then I would have hidden myself from him.
13But it was you, a man like me,
my companion, and my familiar friend.
14We took sweet fellowship together.
We walked in God’s house with company.
15Let death come suddenly on them.
Let them go down alive into Sheol.
For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
16As for me, I will call on God.
The Lord will save me.
17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
He will hear my voice.
18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
although there are many who oppose me.
19God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear and answer them. Selah.
They never change
and don’t fear God.
20He raises his hands against his friends.
He has violated his covenant.
21His mouth was smooth as butter,
but his heart was war.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
23But You, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
but I will trust in You.
1In finem, in carminibus. Intellectus David.
2Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam, et ne despexeris deprecationem meam: 3intende mihi, et exaudi me. Contristatus sum in exercitatione mea, et conturbatus sum 4a voce inimici, et a tribulatione peccatoris. Quoniam declinaverunt in me iniquitates, et in ira molesti erant mihi. 5Cor meum conturbatum est in me, et formido mortis cecidit super me. 6Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et contexerunt me tenebræ. 7Et dixi: Quis dabit mihi pennas sicut columbæ, et volabo, et requiescam? 8Ecce elongavi fugiens, et mansi in solitudine. 9Exspectabam eum qui salvum me fecit a pusillanimitate spiritus, et tempestate. 10Præcipita, Domine; divide linguas eorum: quoniam vidi iniquitatem et contradictionem in civitate. 11Die ac nocte circumdabit eam super muros ejus iniquitas; et labor in medio ejus, 12et injustitia: et non defecit de plateis ejus usura et dolus. 13Quoniam si inimicus meus maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique. Et si is qui oderat me super me magna locutus fuisset, abscondissem me forsitan ab eo. 14Tu vero homo unanimis, dux meus, et notus meus: 15qui simul mecum dulces capiebas cibos; in domo Dei ambulavimus cum consensu. 16Veniat mors super illos, et descendant in infernum viventes: quoniam nequitiæ in habitaculis eorum, in medio eorum. 17Ego autem ad Deum clamavi, et Dominus salvabit me. 18Vespere, et mane, et meridie, narrabo, et annuntiabo; et exaudiet vocem meam. 19Redimet in pace animam meam ab his qui appropinquant mihi: quoniam inter multos erant mecum. 20Exaudiet Deus, et humiliabit illos, qui est ante sæcula. Non enim est illis commutatio, et non timuerunt Deum. 21Extendit manum suam in retribuendo; contaminaverunt testamentum ejus: 22divisi sunt ab ira vultus ejus, et appropinquavit cor illius. Molliti sunt sermones ejus super oleum; et ipsi sunt jacula. 23Jacta super Dominum curam tuam, et ipse te enutriet; non dabit in æternum fluctuationem justo. 24Tu vero, Deus, deduces eos in puteum interitus. Viri sanguinum et dolosi non dimidiabunt dies suos; ego autem sperabo in te, Domine.